So, what exactly is a "green job"?

Left-leaning politicians and earth-saving environmental zealots have touted the "new economy" and its new "green jobs" as the solution to what ails us.

So, what exactly is a "green job?"

As you will see, the Big Government has defined "green jobs" in such a way that nearly everything can be considered a "green job," which means no matter what happens, the Big Government can claim success. Virtually any new job is essentially a "green job." Why? Because Big Government says so.

Orwell would recognize this for what it is. The question is, will America?

Congressman Darrell Issa recently had an occasion to get the low-down from an official source in your federal government. Who better to ask than the people who draw the lines around the categories in the U.S. Department of Labor?

REP. DARRELL ISSA: Well, let me — let me run you through some questions here because you're here because we're having a green jobs counting discussion. Does someone who assembles turbines — is that a green job?

MS. JANE OATES: Wind turbines?

REP. ISSA: Yeah. Wind turbines.

MS. OATES: I think we would call any kind of sustainable manufacturing –

REP. ISSA: OK.

MS. OATES: — fitting the definition that was –

REP. ISSA: Does someone who sweeps — does someone who sweeps the floor in a facility that makes solar panels, is that a green job?

MS. OATES: Solar? I'll give that to –

REP. ISSA: To Galvin?

MS. OATES: — if you don't mind.

MR. JOHN GALVIN: We define — we have a two-part definition –

REP. ISSA: We already had the briefing on that. So just answer the question. If you're sweeping the floor in a solar panel production facility, is that a green job?

MR. GALVIN: If you ask me for the number of health care jobs in the United States, I'll give you the employment from the health care industry.

REP. ISSA: Look, Mr. Galvin –

MR. GALVIN: — nurses and doctors –

REP. ISSA: You did not want to come here as a witness. You are not a delighted witness. So let's go through this. I asked you a question. You know the answer. Would you please answer it. If you sweep the floor in a solar panel facility, is that a green job?

MR. GALVIN: Yes.

REP. ISSA: Thank you. If you drive a hybrid bus — public transportation — is that a green job?

MR. GALVIN: According to our definition, yes.

REP. ISSA: Thank you. What if you're a college professor teaching classes about environmental studies?

MR. GALVIN: Yes.

REP. ISSA: What about just any school bus driver?

MR. GALVIN: Yes.

REP. ISSA: What about the guy who puts gas in the school bus?

MR. GALVIN: Yes.

REP. ISSA: How about employees at a bicycle shop?

MR. GALVIN: I guess I'm not sure about that.

REP. ISSA: The answer is yes, according to your definition. And you've got a lot of them.

What about a clerk at the bicycle repair shop?

MR. GALVIN: Yes.

REP. ISSA: What about someone who works in an antique dealer?

MR. GALVIN: I'm not sure about that either.

REP. ISSA: The answer is yes. Those are — those are recycled goods. They're antiques; they're used. What about someone who works at the Salvation Army in their clothing recycling and furniture?

MR. GALVIN: Right. Because they're selling recycled goods.

REP. ISSA: OK. What about somebody who opened a store to sell rare manuscripts?

MR. GALVIN: What industry is that?

REP. ISSA: People sell rare books and manuscripts — but they're rare because they're old so they're used.

MR. GALVIN: OK.

REP. ISSA: What about workers at a consignment shop?

MR. GALVIN: That's a green job.

REP. ISSA: Does the teenage kid who works full time at a used record shop count?

MR. GALVIN: I don't think we classified the manufacture of rail cars as –

REP. ISSA: 48.8 percent of jobs in manufacturing, rail cars counted, according to your statistics. About half of the jobs that are being used to build trains.

OK. How about — just one more here. What about people who work in a trash disposal yard? Do garbage men have green jobs?

MR. GALVIN: Yes.

REP. ISSA: OK. I apologize. The real last last is, how about an oil lobbyist? Wouldn't an oil lobbyist count as having a green job if they are engaged in advocacy related to environmental issues?

MR. GALVIN: Yes.

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